FIFA 21 Review: 6 Ups & 7 Downs
Ups...
6. The Pace Is Spot On
Time for positives, and there are lots of them this year.
EA decided to make attacking less about pure pace and more about guile in FIFA 21. That comes at a slight cost, because it means you can't just bulldoze your way through a defensive back four every single time. That can still work, just not 10 times out of 10. It's something to keep in mind if that's your preferred play style.
Being honest, the new pace helps game flow tremendously. EA's product has always been more arcade-like than Konami's PES/eFootball, and that gives games an end-to-end, ice hockey-ish feel. Seriously, some matches play out like you're in the bloody NHL.
This can be modified in the menus, but it's oddly engaging (if a little bothersome to those who love a clean sheet). Gameplay is zippy enough without taking away weight when tackling. EA has struck a nice balance here.